Brewers rally past Cubs 3-2, Cardinals take over 1st place

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MILWAUKEE — Ben Gamel hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat Chicago 3-2 Friday night and knock the Cubs out of first place.

Gio González didn’t allow a hit to the Cubs until the sixth, when Alberto Almora Jr. reached on an infield single and David Bote followed with his 10th home run.

Christian Yelich started Milwaukee’s comeback in the seventh when he greeted Brandon Kintzler (2-1) with an RBI single.

Kintzler walked Keston Hiura with one out in the eighth and hit Eric Thames with a pitch. Pedro Strop hit pinch-hitter Ryan Braun and, one out later, Gamel lined a single to right-center.

Adrian Hauser (4-4) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings. Josh Hader worked around Kris Bryant’s one-out single in the ninth, striking out two for his 23rd save in 25 chances.

Chicago, which had held at least a share of the NL Central lead since after play on July 4, dropped one game behind St. Louis. Milwaukee closed within a game of the Cubs.

Each team had four hits but the game took 3 hours, 9 minutes.

González, making his second start since six weeks on the injured list with left arm fatigue, left with left shoulder tightness after allowing three hits in 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Milwaukee All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff went on the injured list Monday with a strained left oblique and right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was placed on the IL Thursday with a strained lat.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed just two singles over five scoreless innings.

HE’S BACK

Cubs: LF Ian Happ was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. Happ, who had 39 homers over two seasons with the Cubs, was hitting .242 with 16 homers and 53 RBI at Iowa.

Brewers: 3B Travis Shaw was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio and went 0 for 3, stranding four runner.

ARRIVING SOON

Chicago acquired LHP Derek Holland from San Francisco for a player to be named.